Piper PA 12 accident near Dickinson, North Dakota, November 22, 2017
On November 22, 2017 at about 7:53 pm local time, a 1947 Piper PA 12, registered N4040M, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Dickinson, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to attain adequate airspeed during the short field takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 2017 · about 7:53 pm local time
- Place
- Dickinson, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 12 NO SERIES, built 1947 · all PA 12s on the register
- Registration
- N4040M · no longer on the register · serial 12-2923
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was attempting a takeoff from an industrial truck yard in 24- to 31-knot gusting headwind conditions. He performed a short field takeoff procedure with the wing flaps extended about halfway. As the airplane reached about 30 knots, the airplane's tailwheel lifted off the ground, then the pilot fully extended the flaps and the airplane became airborne. Shortly afterward, the right wing dropped. As he was recovering from the right bank, the pilot retracted the flaps from fully extended back to half extension and confirmed that the throttle was full forward. At that time, the airplane turned sharply to the right and descended into a parked trailer. A witness reported that, shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane entered a 35° right bank. The pilot corrected slightly; however, at that point, the airplane started a more abrupt climb, "snap rolled" to the right, and impacted the trailer inverted. The bank and roll to the right are consistent with an aerodynamic stall. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The exact position of the wing flaps at the time of impact could not be determined. The dirt- and gravel-surfaced takeoff area was about 750 ft long and was rough and uneven. The uneven takeoff area may have reduced the airplane's acceleration during the takeoff ground roll, and the gusty wind condition may have contributed to the stall once airborne. In addition, given the limited takeoff distance available, the pilot may have rotated the airplane at a slower-than-normal airspeed, thereby increasing the possibility of an inadvertent stall. Additionally, the extension and retraction of the wing flaps during takeoff resulted in abrupt changes in the airplane's angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall, which precipitated the pilot's loss of control.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 185 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 103 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,168 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,539 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Dickinson ND at 7:53 pm
- Destination: ISN Williston ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 750 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 24 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 pm from DIK, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on January 8, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Accident Site Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Surface Weather Observations - Kdik | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N4040M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.